KILMARNOCK 0 CELTIC 1
AN extraordinary finishing effort from substitute Tom Rogic kept Celtic in pole position in the chase for the SPFL crown.
The Champions left it until the fading moments before they snatched all three points.
Rogic’s spectacular long-range effort thumped high into the net to give the Hoops their first win over Kilmarnock at the third time of asking.
The first chance fell to NIr Bitton whose shot from outside the box was deflected wide with keeper Jamie MacDonald scrambling across his line in the ninth minute.
A couple of moments later Kieran Tierney fired over a cross from the left, but Leigh Griffiths, header was straight at MacDonald.
Erik Sviatchenko had a glorious opportunity to open the scoring in the 14th minute.
However, the Danish international was wasteful I his finishing and his header flew hopelessly past the upright. He should have hit the target at least.
Next up, MacDonald double fisted away a fairly tame free-kick from Bitton as the Hoops turned the screw.
Ronny Delia had to revamp his line-up when left-back Tierney was force to come off and be replaced by Dedryck Boyata.
Celtic lived dangerously and Kris Boyd had two chances and thankfully was wayward with both his efforts.
And Kallum Higginbotham was just off target shortly after the interval with a shot that swept just wide with Craig Gordon in trouble.
Celtic had no luck just after the hour mark when Sviatchenko had a header cleared off the line by a desperate Killie defender.
Celtic were denied what looked a like a solid penalty kick claim when Colin Cazim-Richards was hauled down by Lee Ashcroft but referee Alan Muir waved play on.
But it didn’t matter in the end after Rogic’s amazing piece of finishing.
The wild celebrations at the end had the feel of a championship win. Here we go to 5 in a row.
Reporting from a very happy and jam packed Tommy Gemmell Celtic lsupporters bus. Match pics to follow.
TEAM: Gordon; Lustig, Sviatchenko, Mulgrew, Tierney (Sub Boyata 41); McGregor, Brown, Commons (Sub Roberts 46), Bitton (Sub Rogic 79); Griffiths, Colin Cazim-Richards
